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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

History of Religious Kumaon King Udyot Chandra:

History of Religious Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

(History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 192

By: Bhishma Kukreti

Time Period of Kumaon King Udyot Chandra -1678-1698

Inscriptions of Kumaon king -1678,1682,1684,1689,1690,1691,1692,1693,1695,1697,1698 AD

Contemporary Neighboring Kings of Kumaon King Udyot Chand

Shrinagar Garhwal King Fateshah -1664-1716

Delhi Mogul Emperor – Aurangzeb

Udyot Chandra was elder son of Kumaon king Baj Bahadur Chandra. Kumaon King Baj Bahadur had three sons –Udyot Chandra, Pahad Singh Gusain and third son who became Sanyasi and ran away.

Baj Bahadur transferred his son Udyot Chandra to Gangoli from Almora believing that Udyot Chandra was to revolt against him. At the time of death of Kumaon King Baj Bahadur in 1678, Udyot Chandra was in Gangoli and Udyot Chandra was coroneted without any resistance.

The court employees, subjects and learned people were happy on death of Baj Bahadur.

Just after getting kingdom, Kumaon King Udyot Chandra gifted land to his supporter Devi Datt Pathak.

Attack on Garhwal Kingdom by Udyot Chandra

Politically, Garhwal and Kumaon Kingdoms were under Mogul rule but they were free to rule their territories.

In 1678, Kumaon King Udyot Chandra attacked to Garhwal kingdom and king and his army commander Maisi Sahu were leading Kumaon army. Kumaon Kingdom Army commander Maisi Sahu attacked on Garhwal from Badhan border. Garhwal Kingdom army killed Maisi Sahu. Kumaon king and his army ran away to their capital Almora.

On that period, the culture was that the defeated king had to attack again. Kumaon king Udyot Chandra attacked again on Garhwal through Ganai region in 1679. Kumaon King captured Lohaba, Chandpur regions of Garhwal and looted the region and ran away. Now the turn was for Garhwal king to attack on Kumaon Kingdom.

Garhwal King did war treaty with Doti Katyuri kingdom (now, in Nepal). In 1680, Doti king attacked to Kumaon from its east side and captured Champawat. From west, Garhwal king attacked on Kumaon and captured Dunagiri and Dwarhat of Kumaon. The battles were for two years. However, at the end Kumaon King was successful to get free his lost territories from Doti King and Garhwal King.

Kumaon king Udyot Chandra established army camps in east near kali bank in Sor, Champwat and Brahma Mandi to defend the territory.

Kumaon King Udyot Chandra established army camps in Dunagiri and Dwarhat.

Religious Ritual Performances by Kumaon King Udyot Chandra

Udyot Chandra was very religious man. He used to perform rituals in temples and in place for keeping away the bad evils.

Kumaon King Udyot Chandra offered land to Ramewashwr temple in 1682 and in 1684, offered land twice to Jageshwar temple.

Udyot Chandra had gone for Ganga Snan (bathing into Ganges) to Daranagar in 1684. While coming back from Daranagar, he came to know that Doti King attacked on Kumaon again.

Doti Campaign

Doti King Deep Sahi attacked on Kali Kumaon knowing the absence of King Udyot Chand. Garhwal King was busy in war with Sirmaur Kingdom. In 1685, Kumaon army pushed back Doti army from kali-Kumaon. Kumaon army marched towards Doti.

In 1685, Kumaon army entered Doti. Kumaon army captured Ajmer Garh, summer palace of Doti King and central court of Doti (Chauntara). Doti King ran to Dipali at the bank of Seti River in foothills. In 1687, Kumaon army reached to Dipali and captured the territory. Doti king ran away and took asylum at Khairagarh (a territory of Awadh king). In 1688, Udyot Chandra attacked on Khairagarh. Doti King accepted the super rule of Kumaon and agreed to pay tribute.

Building Temples and Ritual Performances

When Udyot Chandra returned to his capital Almora, there was huge celebration for the win. King Udyot Chand started building new palace. Kumaon King Udyot Chand built a new pond in present palace. The Kumaon King Udyot Chand built temples in his name and on his queen’s name –Udyotchandreshwar and Tripur Sundari respectively. He had a Khavanis queen Parvati whom he loved the most. He built a temple on her name Parvateshwar temple.

Kumaon King Udyot Chandra performed Lakshdeepdan, Grihdan, Shakradhwajropan and many more religious rituals.

King Udyot Chand built a temple Bhard mandir for Bhut pujai and now, that temple is called Shai Bhairav temple.

Defeat fromDoti King

Dot King (now in Nepal) accepted the super rule of Kumaon and agreed upon to pay tribute. However, Doti King broke the Khairagarh treaty and stopped paying tribute to Kumaon King.

Kumaon King Udyot Chandra attacked on Doti in 1696. There was fierce battle between Doti army and Kumaon army at Jurail of Dandeldhura region. Doti army defeated Kumaon army. Kumaon King Udyot Chandra returned Almora for taking new armed force. Manorath Joshi and Shiromani Joshi of Jhinjhad were leading Kumaon army in Jurail (place in Doti kingdom). Doti army killed Shiromani Joshi. Kumaon King had to call back his balance army from Jirali to Almora.

Mal Management

Bhabhar and Tarai regions were important from crop fertility point of view. Kumaon King Udyot Chandra paid much attention on managing Mal (Bhabhar-Tarai). Udyot Chand built gardens in Mal. New mango gardens were built in Kashipur and Kota. Kumaon court officer for Mal Shrinath Adhikari established new town –Shrinathpur.

Building works by Udyot Chand

Udyot Chand erected new temples and repaired various old temples. Udyot Chand erected new palace buildings. In 1689, Udyot Chand built Tallamahal and in 1692, he built Rangmahal. Udyot Chand built pond and bathroom in his palace. Udyot Chand built a hall for celebrating Dashhara festival.

Employees of Udyot Chand

The Joshis of Jhinjhad were ministers in the court of Udyot Chand. Bhav Dev Joshi was his personal secretary or Diwan.

Udyot Chand the Kumaon King contemporary of Aurangzeb was scholar and used to honor scholars. Scholars from far away from other parts of India used to come in Almora for scholarly discussions.

King Udyot Chand offered land and house to a Bhatt south Indian Brahmin.

In 1690, Matiram poet created verses ‘Alankar Panchshika’ in praise of Prince Gyan Chand son of Udyot Chand. Famous poet Matiram also created poems in praise of King Udyot Chand. There was Madan a poet in Udyot Chand court. Once, King Udyot Chandra was annoyed by Madan. Matiram soothed King Udyot Chand. Udyot Chand pardoned Madan poet on advice of Matiram.

Death of Udyot Chand

Kumaon King Udyot Chandra used to honor religious saints and Mahatmas. Udyot Chand had great faith in a Mahatma Ridhisidhi Gusain who used to live in Almora. Mahatma Ridhisidhi also used to like Udyot Chand.

As per advice of saints, King Udyot Chandra handed over his kingdom to his son Prince Gyan Chandra and became busy in praying deities.

Religious Kumaon King Udyot Chand died in 1698. His Khavanis wife Parvati burnt herself live with his dead body (Sati) .

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -193

History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….

Himalayan, Indian History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…

(Himalayan, Indian History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)

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Notes on Asian History of Religious Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Pithoragarh-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Dwarhat-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Bageshwar-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Champawat- Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Almora-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Nainital-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Ranikhet- Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb; Asian History of Religious Haldwani-Kumaon King Udyot Chandra: A Contemporary king of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb-